UAW negotiations summary
UC’s partnership with UAW spans 32 years: 1993 -2025
The University and the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local Union 4811 have a 32-year history of successful and collaborative negotiation. UC Berkeley academic student employees were PERB-certified in 1993, and ASEs at all other campuses gained certification by 1999. The graduate student researchers (GSRs) unit was established in 2021.
UC begins negotiations with UAW for BR/BX contracts in July 2025.
Highlights of the Current BR/BX Contract
- Most ASEs and GSRs are appointed at 50% effort, equivalent to 16-20 hours per week.
- By Oct. 1, 2024, the first step on the new salary scale will be set at $34,564.50 for 50%-time appointments.
- Fee remissions: 100% of campus fees for eligible GSRs and ASEs with 25 percent or greater appointments, 100% coverage of tuition, student services fees, and health care. This amounts to UC covering a total of $13,707 up to $22,248 for all tuition and fees for eligible ASEs, depending on the campus. In addition, UC will cover Nonresident Supplemental Tuition for up to three years for eligible ASEs who have advanced to candidacy in their degree programs.
- Childcare subsidy for student parents, per semester: $1400 per fiscal quarter for expenses incurred during the GSR’s appointment period
- Comprehensive health insurance: no monthly premium
UAW-represented units at UC
Approximately 46,260 UC employees work in four units represented by the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW 4811), as follows:
Academic Student Employees
The Academic Student Employee Unit (BX) is a systemwide bargaining unit (except UCSF) comprised of graduate teaching assistants, readers, tutors, and other instructional assistants who support faculty and lecturers. Currently, the unit includes approximately 20,680 graduate student employees.
BX unit headcount by location
Graduate Student Researchers
The Graduate Student Researchers Unit (BR) is a systemwide bargaining unit comprised of Graduate Student Researchers, Graduate Student Research Assistants, Fellows, and Trainees employed by the University (collectively referred to as GSRs). The unit includes approximately 13,420* systemwide.
BR unit headcount by location
Academic Researchers
The Academic Researchers Unit (RA) is a systemwide bargaining unit of academic researchers at the University of California. It comprises Academic Specialists, Project Scientists, Professional Researchers, and Coordinators of Public Programs. There are 5,004* academic researchers across the UC enterprise.
RA unit headcount by location
Postdoctoral Scholars
The Postdoctoral Scholars Unit (PX) is a systemwide bargaining unit comprised of postdoctoral scholars and postgraduate researchers who support faculty and lecturers. The unit includes about 7,163* postdoctoral and doctoral scholars.
PX unit headcount by location